SleeperService

Your battle with the vinyl tracks reminds me what pushed me out of 76th scale. Spent weeks on a M4A4 Firefly and got defeated by the tracks. Mr Hammer meet Mr Not Very Good Model. Still, you've pushed on and overcome so I doff my cap to you Sir! It certainly looks a lot more 'Shermany' that the tat you started with. With all these finished models starting to crop up I thought I was the only one at War with his entry!! Good Luck

Hi Troy I completely agree with you but, for this model, stu is looking to build the museum model as it is now. Hence my comments. I'm always dubious of museum claims to have 'researched carefully' as I was once assured that an aircraft scheme was completely accurate. I mentioned this to a friend who, within minutes, had turned up a series of photographs in colour showing that regs had been followed, the museum was in error. Many years later it transpired that the paint had also been sourced from a DIY chain.....it's not just the Tank Museum. I think that 131's colours are pretty close but, because of the gloss look a lot darker than they should. The finish was meant to turn matt 'after a few weeks' but seems virtually unchanged to me at any rate.

Bristol 188 Yes!! YES!! YES!! Get the box art right and no young person of any age will be able to resist buying it. It should be a simple enough model to manufacture and would make a great stepping stone from smaller, cheaper 'present' kits to larger more expensive and profitable things. 48th Vulcan, Robert you're insane but then so am I!!!

I hope soon after if not. Enquiring minds need to know. Then I can get it with the Demon. I wished I could have found a functioning cash machine on the way to the Southwell show.

Thank You again. I did wonder if it was something like that. I'll go and get the Humbrol colours you mentioned tomorrow, it will make a change from filler and sanding.....

Glad it's worked for you. Don't be too hasty to judge it though it takes a few hours to completely settle. Check it again in the morning...

There have been drop-outs before: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234947916-odds-ordnance/ and there has been some violent weather here recently. He's based on the Isle of Skye and does seem to get overwhelmed by demand. I'd try again in a few days.

PanzerPaulo Your timing is superb for me Sir I'm building a 1/48 model of the very same scheme in the Obsolete GB and have been trying to find colours that look right. You have saved me a lot of problems. The aircraft in your linked article and Panoz's pictures look pretty clean, is that normal?

Cracking pictures foxy. There's a load more here:http://jtrowbridge5.smugmug.com/BovingtonsHeavies there are several galleries with Tiger photos so have a look round his site generally. Note that the finish has an obvious sheen to it, it is certainly not flat! There's also the damage from a shot on the bottom edge of the mantlet, this is painted silver/aluminium to show up. I've been told they used Humbrol silver.... A good choice of subject says he who is collecting stuff to build her as she was on Horse Guards parade in 1943.

That does look rather nice. Bit of attention where needed and lots of TLC on the build. I agree that the rocket effect is a very nice touch

As many of the MZ stores under-performed I wouldn't take the second as a given. WHS will be doing their own market research I think, a lot of their stores still need work (according to them) and they're not out of the woods yet, but they seem to be heading in the right direction. Older heads there will be thinking of what Airfix and Woolies did back in the 60s when Airfix were an up-and coming ambitious brand and Woolies were in the doldrums. As a parallel Maccy Dee the burger people spend a huge amount on research ahead of a store opening. KFC have a different approach, most of the time they simply stay within a mile or so of MD!

Well Done Natter and As a newbie aircraft model-maker I was looking at this online yesterday and wondering whether to add it to cart. I'm so glad I didn't. I have had my fill of disappointment over 'hyped' and 'It's by X so it's excellent' reviews leading to 'under the table at shows' fodder. The last magazine I brought every issue of was Military Modelling, I stopped soon after the new editor took over when it abruptly changed direction and tried to compete with the established aircraft magazines, very poorly IMHO, and became photographic instruction sheets/advertorial/eulogies rather than sources of information. From about 4-5 magazines a month I'm down to 10/year. I bet I'm not alone.... The recent MMP book on Malta Spitfires brought at the Cosford Show is very good. So it can be done.

I was thinking about 'alternative' weathering products belonging to members of the Fairer Sex...... Totally agree about the atmosphere here on BM, a friend said he's had more interaction on here in a few weeks than on another site I shall not name in several years. I'll be putting the results up regardless, I need to let the paint/varnish harden off before I start and, as I'm not that quick it may be a week or so.

That's a ton of good ideas and help. Thanks. I'll be down to my LMS first thing Monday and try the Humbrol first I think. The vids on Youtube seem Sleeper-proof (like idiot-proof but more so) so I shall see. Oz! That's a very nice finish which is what I shall aim for (but miss I suspect...by a mile) I shall certainly err on the side of caution and make sure I don't 'borrow' anything I shouldn't.

Just seen these from your introduction link. If your models aren't very good who do these belong to then???? I've had three attempts at the gold foil on my LM, it's currently in the quarantine zone while I steel myself for another go..... you've got exactly the effect I'm aiming at. Very nice builds and good finishing.

Why not keep your original title in there with Panzers and Other Tanks GB.....

Or it could be from a Harley kit. The nose piece looks like a P-80 (T-33) part modified and the side pieces look like wing roots from the same or a similar source inside out. If you split the money with me and Pete we'll help to invest it.....

Looks like he has another one then I've brought from this guy before. He relists at a lower price until somebody bites. However if you could work off the instruction sheet I think it would be possible to scratch-build it. While you're saving up give it a go....

Because you've hit the bold key. Go to 'More reply options and the letter B at the start of row 2 should be highlighted. Click again to revert to normal. I managed the same trick with underline until I clicked the right button. DOH!

That looks good to me for the wheels I'll be trying that. I've painted the rims then I went over then metal bit with a pencil and rubbed the graphite around. Tip I found on here somewhere. They do look rather good. Your dry brushing really makes the detail leap out. You've even done a KT wheel so I have a pattern!

Hmm Interesting posts above. Funnily enough a 48th Ju-52 is in the queue for building soon. When that's done I have a B-17 and then a B-29 when Kitsworld do the engine names missing from the 48th sheet. My dad is heavily into target rifle shooting, to the extent he owns a range, not many youngsters there either but there is a steady stream of middle-aged mainly guys with grown up kids, taking up hobbies as they've now got free time. Model-making is the same IMHO. May or may not have built models seriously as a youngster but drift into the hobby later as a result of father/son kit building or seeing kits at airshows and the like. I don't think model-making and a young family are compatible for most households. But it makes a good hobby for somebody with the right outlook. I suspect many of these guys have partners who are doing the same thing with different pursuits. Certainly the local Hobbycraft always seems full of ladies with baskets full of crafty stuff. Apparently knitting is making a comeback as well.

Hi Paramedic I haven't but, if it helps, this stuff is very similar to solvaset and will even bed down decals onto a matt surface, as long as you don't panic when the decal flakes and blisters, just leave it alone and a day later it's great. I think it acts like Fairy Power Spray on some acrylics (there are several different, inconsistent types) so may be too aggressive as others have suggested. I'd strongly suggest painting a test piece and experiment on it until you've got the measure of it. Used with care it's good stuff, even handles Tamiya super-thick decals. I use it when Microsol and set aren't up to the job.

Can never decide whether the GT40 or Cobra Coupe (1964 Le Mans Car 5 natch) is nicer. This one looks fantastic. I know the model car convention is for a super high gloss finish but, as others have said, this isn't what cars have. I've been in and out of body repair all my life and worked on everything from a Rolls to a Honda moped so I offer the following. Cellulose paints used until the mid-80s don't have a smooth surface. When at ICI for a training course for two pack they had a high magnification picture of the finish. It is best described as orange peel (the fruit not the similar paint issue), the result is that it's not a pure gloss but a high reflective satin finish. Garages would then produce a high shine by using dual-action buffers on demonstrators and for special customers. I think you've nailed the effect completely. When you get to higher spec motors like the P5 and Mercedes they would flat back the standard paint to smooth it before giving a very thin mist coat, this, being thin, stopped the dimpled effect and ramped the shine up a notch. It was rather labour intensive and a skilled job so your Escort, Mini or Imp didn't get it. I think Rolls were specified at fifteen of these coats. Then two pack arrived which, when properly applied, gave a mirror shine out of the gun, not terribly popular because it was lethal, the boss's lad was playing outside too near the extraction vent and was in hospital for a fortnight getting over it, it was a complete pain to colour match and virtually impossible to feather in. Oh and would go from fine to gel or not curing at the drop of a hat. Modern acrylic paint is much shinier than cellulose out of the gun but can't be polished as highly. Apparently you can even drink it but I have never tried it. HTH rather than confuses.

Watched a brilliant programme on 4OD 'The Plane That Saved Britain' very well presented by a guy who made no secret of his complete love for the plane. The last few minutes are wonderful. BOT about the book does it give a complete numpty enough information to make a decent model? I'm a bit wary of a lot of in box advertorials, sorry reviews, that completely fail to mention the sort of thing that Mike and the Team point out here. and Well Done for that! and I can't afford to buy half a dozen books to give me enough information to make the single 48th model I've got planned at the moment. After the programme it's got to be that 6pdr jobbie or the Amiens(?) prison bomber or those anti-shipping planes flying rather lower than I thought possible.